The Romanian Forest Forum and the new Forest Code: How the specialists' recommendations are reflected in the adopted legislation

In the context of the adoption of Romania's new Forestry Code by the Chamber of Deputies on December 17, 2024, the conclusions of the Forum on Forests, Wood Industry and Green Economy, organized in Bucharest by the Community of Foresters - Fordaq and the Association of the Wood Processing Industry - Prolemn, just a few days before, provide a valuable insight into how the new national legislation responds to the challenges in the Romanian forest sector.

A comparative analysis of the Forum's recommendations and the provisions of the new Romanian Forestry Code shows that a significant part of the specialists' proposals have found their place in the text of the law. Here are the main correlations:

Proposals fully implemented in Romanian legislation:

• Defining sustainably managed forests as a pillar of the bio-economy - the concept is now explicitly included in Romania's sustainable forest management principles
• Regulating the higher recovery of wood, with a focus on cascading - the law introduces the obligation to recover a minimum of 50% of Romanian wood in the form of sawn timber from 2024, increasing to 70% from 2030
• Implementing an effective traceability system at first placing on the market - the new Code introduces the concept of an 'integrated forest information system'

Proposals partially implemented:

• Programs to increase energy efficiency in the use of forest biomass in Romania - although included as a principle, concrete mechanisms remain to be defined by secondary legislation
• Simplification of procedures for small forest owners in Romania - some facilitations are introduced, but experts say further measures are needed
• Stability of the Romanian exploitation sector through multi-annual contracts - the law allows for them, but with certain limitations

Issues that still need solutions:

• Compensation for Romanian owners of forests included in Natura 2000 protected areas - although foreseen in principle, concrete implementation mechanisms remain to be defined
• Environmental assessment procedures for forest management plans - further clarification needed through secondary legislation
• Development of the storage infrastructure for the superior valorization of Romanian timber - significant investments are needed

In the Romanian timber industry, which contributes 4.5% to the national GDP and provides 300,000 jobs, the new Code brings the predictability requested by specialists at the Forum, but also introduces limitations on market concentration - no company or group may acquire more than 30% of the volume of a national assortment.

An important aspect emphasized at the Forum and reflected in the new Code is the support of Romanian forest-dependent communities. The law introduces the definition of these communities and sets concrete measures to ensure their access to forest resources.

The major challenge highlighted both at the Forum and by specialists in the field remains the effective implementation of the new provisions in the Romanian forestry system. Success will depend to a large extent on the rapid and coherent development of secondary legislation and the provision of the necessary resources to implement the new mechanisms.

This new legislative framework is an important step towards the modernization of the forestry sector in Romania, but experts underline that the process of improvement must continue, in permanent dialogue with all stakeholders, in order to align with the best European practices in the field.